Top Electronic Drum Kits Reviewed: Best Brands & Models for Every Budget
A guide to the best electronic drum kits across various price ranges from entry-level to top-of-the-line options, from top brands like Roland, Millenium, Alesis, and more.
As a drum teacher, I often get asked by students what the best electronic drum kit to buy is. My answer depends on a few factors. Obviously, price is the main point of contention.
Other things to consider are the number of sounds it has, whether it can be recorded into a digital audio workstation and the feel of the pads.
I would like to look at different electronic drumkits in various price ranges and give my opinion.
Entry Level Kits
These kits are suited for anyone who wants to start learning the drums.
Millenium MD-100 Mobile Drum see price
This kit is ok if you want to practice on the go or have to do a quiet rehearsal at someone’s house. I wouldn’t recommend it to learn on.
I have had students book lessons with me online with this kit and it proved to be difficult. It’s difficult to learn on simply because there is no bass drum pedal.
For another £30 you can get the next model.
Millenium HD-120 E-Drum Set see price
This is a good solid kit for a beginner regardless of age. What makes an entry-level kit is usually the material of the drum pads.
Cheaper kits have rubber pads because they are inexpensive. They are harder to play than mesh pads and also feel less like acoustic drums.
I was surprised to see this kit has both a MIDI and USB input for recording.
Millenium MPS-150 E-Drum Set see price
The next kit up in entry-level kits is Millenium MPS-150 E-Drum Set. This is a super light kit at only 18kgs! This is great if you are doing lots of rehearsals or small gigs where you need to take it in and out of your car.
The rack system is also very sturdy. It also has a real bass drum pedal. I always tell students that they should have an actual bass drum pedal if they want to earn the drums.
This way you can switch from electronic drums to acoustic drums without changing your technique.
Mid-Level Kits
I always tell people that if you get a good mid-level kit you may not need to upgrade in the future. Some brands have mid-level kits that do a lot of the same function as the top-of-the-range kits.
My definition of a mid-level kit is it costs under £1000.
Roland TD-07DMK V-Drum Set see price
Roland is a well-known brand for a simple reason. They make great products! Although some people may consider this an entry-level kit, I disagree because it has mesh heads.
Mesh heads are great because they feel incredibly close to acoustic drums. You also won’t get any jarring in your hands like you can with rubber pads.
This kit has over 140 high-quality sounds, MIDI capability, and Bluetooth. A great kit to start with if you have the cash.
Millenium MPS-1000 D2 E-Drum Set NT see price
This kit is ideal for people who want to do gigs with their electronic drum kit. It has wooden shells so it looks just like an acoustic drumkit.
The cymbals also feel quite real and move when you hit them giving the user an authentic experience.
This kit includes effects like compressors, over 40 drumkits, and 70 pre-made songs to jam with. It’s a kit that both looks and sounds great.
Top of the Range Kits
These kits fall into the category of being over £1000. They all have mesh heads, USB and MIDI inputs/outputs, and internal storage for recording your own sounds.
Alesis Strata Prime E-Drum Kit see price
I like this kit because it has a custom rack. Having a curved bar on the rack system is a great idea! This lets you position your drums and cymbals more freely.
The real hi-hat stand also makes it easier to get a response from your hi-hats when you open them. The wooden shells look fancy and exotic. I’m sure they would look great under lights on a stage.
It also has a touchscreen menu, over 128gig of storage, and 75 drum kits. A great instrument and the definition of a top-of-the-range electronic kit.
Efnote 7 E-Drum Set see price
This kit stands out because it doesn’t have a rack system! The majority of all-electronic kits have a rack because it’s easy to set up. The only downside is, sometimes you feel claustrophobic because everything is so close.
This isn’t the case with this kit. It has real metal stands for the drums and cymbals just like an acoustic kit. The module attaches to the hi-hat stand and is encased in metal for extra sturdiness.
A Midi output means you can record it on your DAW. With over 120 sounds and a touchscreen module, the Efnote 7 is an excellent choice.
Roland TD-27KV2 E-Drum Set see price
This kit also has a curved rack for optimum positioning. To me, the pedals are what makes this a top-of-the-range drumkit. Playing the bass drum and hi-hat feels effortless simply because the pedals are so well made.
Mesh heads and real-feel cymbals also add to the user experience. I was always impressed by Roland's high-quality sounds. This kit is no exception. The bass drums have an impressive amount of bottom end without sounding fake. The cymbals are high pitched but not to the point where they sound ‘tinny’.
Bluetooth pairing means you can play along to your favorite songs on your phone. This kit has a slot for an SD card. This means you will never run out of options for sounds! Storage also won’t be a problem. With over 770 sounds and sample reverb the Roland TD-27KV2 is great for learning on, the studio or playing gigs.
I hope you enjoyed this article and it gave you insight on what matters when it comes to buying an electronic drum kit.
Explore our selection of Electronic Drumkits
About Magesh Magesh
Magesh is a musician and producer who has worked with Rihanna, Lionel Richie, Ricky Martin, Chris Brown, The Pussy Cat Dolls, Nelly Furtado, and Vernon Reid of Living Colour.
He released an instructional drumming DVD called "Unique Beats" where he mixed the drum kit with electronics and Indian hand percussion. He recently moved from Australia to the UK to explore new musical opportunities.
Website: mageshdrumteacher.co.uk
Contact Magesh Magesh at magesh.magesh7@gmail.com
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